Today’s pickle plant operators in the steel manufacturing and processing fields
have a complete solution to what is often considered to be their biggest
problem: how best to manage their spent hydrochloric acid.

Metsep, through a series of dedicated, customer-focused services and processes,
helps pickle plant operators to dispose of their waste acid simply, efficiently
and cost-effectively without risking the well-being of their production
personnel or the environment. Our core objective is to enable companies to
manage, with optimum effectiveness, the waste acid generated from steel
treatment processes. This is especially relevant for companies that have high
standards for their quality and environmental management programmes.

Operations

Metsep operates either through plants dedicated to a single customer, or using a
centralised acid regeneration servicing a number of localised customers.

Dedicated Acid Regeneration Plant

Metsep supplies an acid regeneration service to steel works or steel processing
companies, whereby Metsep either builds or operates an acid regeneration plant
designed to the customers exact requirements, or takes over and modernises an
existing acid regeneration facility.

Various options exist for the customer, for example, Metsep build, own and
operate the acid regeneration plant on site, or across the fence; Metsep manage,
operate and maintain the acid regeneration plant with ownership residing with
the steelworks; Metsep takes over or purchases an existing acid plant and
thereafter modernises or builds a new facility. These out-sourcing options allow
Metsep as an experienced operator to manage the acid plants enabling the
steelworks resources to focus on its core business of steel manufacture.

Centralised Acid Regeneration Plant

Metsep owns and operates acid regeneration plants which provide a service to
steel picklers and fabricators which either cannot economically justify an acid
regeneration plant on site or do not want the problems associated with owning
and operating an acid regeneration plant on a steel fabricating site.

It is standard Metsep practice to deliver a consignment of regenerated acid that
is inhibited fully to customer requirement. All deliveries are timeous and to an
agreed specification with an accompanying certificate of analysis.

Project Execution

In addition to its operating know how, Metsep is able to provide its clients
with a range of project execution options that can be applied to either the
refurbishment or modification of existing plants or the building of completely
new plants. Metsep’s flexible approach to the design and construction of acid
regeneration plants includes the following:

• Reimbursable project management, engineering and construction management of
plans for and on behalf of clients (EPCM).

• The complete turnkey supply of acid regeneration plants (EPC) whereby Metsep
assumes the full risk and responsibility for the manufacture, construction and
commissioning of the plant.

• The provision of design and engineering services for the refurbishment and
upgrade of existing plans.

• The design and installation of plant control and management systems specific
to the needs of the client.

Metsep ensures that its extensive experience in plant operations and maintenance
is employed by its project execution teams to provide optimum plant performance
and reliability.

Technical Advice

Taking our customer’s commitment further, we provide a series of compli-mentary
technical advisory and support services. For example, our technical advisory
team can provide valuable information on acid-resistant materials and fittings,
pickle bath construction and procurement, and plant layout and operation. Our
facilities include laboratories with state-of-the-art analytical equipment to
ensure all batches are analysed accurately, reliably and efficiently. All
analytical data is supplied to customer’s confidentiality.

All-in-all, these services are customised to your needs to strengthen your
competitive edge.

Services to large and small customers

There is a growing trend for large manufacturers such as steel works and steel
processing companies to increase their focus on core products and production
processes, and to outsource non-core services and operations. Metsep’s dedicated
waste-acid regeneration facilities and services are ideal for manufacturers to
outsource acid regeneration operations.

Metsep has access to the necessary technology and design facilities to be able
to provide and operate custom built acid regeneration facilities which could be
dedicated to the service of regenerated acid consumers.

In addition to acid regeneration, Metsep provides a further service to
customers, in that it operates waste water effluent treatment plants. Metsep is
well placed to provide this service by taking over existing plants or will own
and operate new, custom, designed waste water effluent treatment plants for the
customer.

As an independent company with a sound performance record, Metsep can provide
the steel manufacturing and processing industries with proven economical,
technological and environmental benefits.